👈The Tears of St Peter (1587-1596)
El Greco (Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos) 1541-1614
Museo Soumaya at Plaza Carso, Mexico.
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Titles I make vntruths: am I a rocke,
That with so soft a gale was ouerthrowne? [170]
Am I fit pastor for the faithfull flocke,
To guide their soules that murdred thus mine owne?
A rocke of ruine, not a rest to stay,
A pastor, not to feede but to betray.
I turn titles into their opposite; am I really as solid and immovable as a rock when I was demolished by such a gentle wind, the words spoken to me by the maidservant? Am I even fit to be the shepherd and pastor of the faithful, guiding their souls, when I brought death to my own soul? I am a rock, but a rock of ruin that collapsed and not a solid base providing strength and support; I am a shepherd of souls, but a pastor who does not feed his sheep and lambs ...but one who betrays.
169. Titles . . . rocke. Recalling the title Christ gave to Peter:
Whom do men say that the Son of man is? But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. [Matt. xvi. 13-19]
171. pastor. Etymology: late 14c. (mid-13c. as a surname), “shepherd, one who has care of a flock or herd” (a sense now obsolete), also figurative, “spiritual guide, shepherd of souls, a Christian minister or clergyman,” from Old French pastor, pastur “herdsman, shepherd” (12c.) and directly from Latin pastor “shepherd,” from pastus, past participle of pascere “to lead to pasture, set to grazing, cause to eat,” from PIE root *pa- “to feed; tend, guard, protect.” Compare pasture.
Cf. Christ’s words to Peter after His Resurrection:
When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs. He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep. [Matt. xxi. 15-17]
173. rest. A thing which acts as a support or comfort to a person, esp. Christ or religious faith. Obsolete.
1590 A. Prowse tr. J. Taffin Of Markes Children of God iv. sig. E4v They beleeue that Christ is the sonne of God,..but yet they vnderstand not that he must die, and rise againe: wherein notwithstanding lieth the principall rest of our faith.
Alternatively, a place to rest or stay, a resting place; 1572 (▸a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 59 I pray the, bring me to sum rest, the wedder is sa schill.
stay. To support, sustain, strengthen, comfort. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. xi. sig. Nn4v Neither may This fire be quencht by any witt or might,..So mighty be th'enchauntments, which the same do stay.
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Fidelitie was flowne, when feare was hatched, [175]
Incompatible brood in Vertue's neast:
Courage can lesse with cowardise be matched,
Prowesse nor loue lodg'd in diuided breast.
O Adam's child, cast by a sillie Eue,
Heire to thy father's foyles, and borne to grieue!
Fidelity took wing and flew off as soon as fear made its appearance, for these fledgling qualities in Virtue’s nest are quite incompatible. Courage and cowardice could be less easily matched; neither courage nor love could exist in a heart which is divided.
O child of Adam, born from foolish Eve, inheriting thy father’s misfortunes and born to sorrow!
176. neast. Nest.
177. matched. Match. To join (two people or things) in companionship or cooperation; to put together so as to form a pair or set with (another person or thing). 1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. iii. 47 Matching alwaies with iustice mercie.
178. prowesse. Prowess. Valour, bravery, gallantry, martial daring; manly courage, fortitude. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. I. vii. 176 In this battaile Canutus proued the Loyaltie and manly prowesse of the Englishe men.
Moral goodness. ?a1425 (▸c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. iv. pr. iii. 71 So as bounte and pruesse ben the mede to goode folk, also is schrewidnesse itself torment to schrewes.
179. cast. To give birth to, bear (young); to lay (eggs), deposit (spawn). Obsolete or dialect. 1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 81v Shee was the fairest hewde..that euer kinde Had cast.
sillie. Silly. Helpless, defenceless, powerless; Of a person, esp. a woman or a child: 1539 R. Morison tr. J. L. Vives Introd. Wisedome sig. G.viii Consyder, in what dangers man is, whyle he lyeth lyke a deade carkas, hauynge noo power of hym selfe. Wherfore Christe must soo moche the more instantelye be sought vpon, that he may vouchsafe to defende vs sylly wretches [L. nos tam imbecillos].
Of a person: lacking in judgement or common sense; foolish, thoughtless, empty-headed; 1611 Bible (King James) 2 Tim. iii. 6 Of this sort are they which creep into houses, and leade captiue silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.
180. foyles. Foil. A repulse, defeat in an onset or enterprise; a baffling check. 1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 13 Considering what a foul shame and foil it had alreddi bene unto me. Some versions have toyles.
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In Thabor's ioyes I eger was to dwell:
An earnest friend while pleasures' light did shine,
But when eclipsed glorie prostrate fell,
These zealous heates to sleepe I did resigne;
And now, my mouth hath thrise His name defil'd, [185]
That cry'd so loude three dwellings there to builde.
I was happy to set up home with Thee on the heights of Mt Thabor, where I wanted to be a faithful and ardent friend — while enjoying the bright and warming radiance of that day; but when His glory, shining as the sun, was eclipsed and brought low by His Passion, I closed my eyes and my heart to these warm feelings of enthusiasm and friendship.
And look at me now, my lips have three times His name denied and defiled, the same lips that called out so loudly to make three tabernacles as dwellings for Jesus, Moses and Elias.
Note. These lines refer to Peter’s recollection of the Transfiguration on Mt. Thabor the “high mountain apart”:
“And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him. And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not. And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus.” [Matt. xvii. 1-8]
Peter himself refers to this remarkable event in one of his letters:
“For we have not by following artificial fables, made known to you the power, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were eyewitnesses of his greatness. For he received from God the Father, honour and glory: this voice coming down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation.” [2 Peter i. 16-20]
This text is particularly pertinent to the Protestant innovation of private interpretation of scripture. On the one hand, the poet uses Peter's denial as a metaphor for the denial of their faith by Catholics of this period through fear of the illegitimate 'virgin' queen of England, Elizabeth. In another sense, many in England are being forced through fear to deny Peter (in his primacy) and thus to reject the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ.
180. I eger was to dwell. Vid. supra,
“Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”
181. earnest. Of a person: serious, not frivolous; showing sincere and intense feeling or conviction; lacking playfulness. Of feelings, convictions, etc.: intense, ardent; sincerely held. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. iii. 87 I..haue beene, An earnest aduocate to pleade for him.
while pleasures’ light did shine. Vid.
“And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.”
183. heates. Heat. Intensity or great warmth of feeling; fervour, ardour, animation, vehemence, eagerness, excitement. 1565 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. (1611) 238 Amplifications, or heats of speech, the better to stirre vp, and to enflame the minds of the Hearers.
resign. To hand over (a physical object, a possession, an asset, etc.); to give up ownership of or claim to (something in one's possession or charge); to cede. Vid. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 713 That all Northumberland And Cumbria he sould frelie resing, Into the handis of this Dauid king.
To consign, make over, deliver up to a person, thing, circumstance, etc. Vid. 1561 R. Norvell Myroure of ane Christiane f. 61 My supplicatione I resing Onlie to Thé, and my intent I do present.
184. thrise. Thrice.
185. That cry'd so loude three dwellings there to builde. Vid.
“...if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”
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Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
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